LEVY: Vote no on tax

If you pay property tax in Kootenai County, I encourage you to vote and vote NO on March 9. This will send a message to the Idaho public school system that we need change. We are being taxed to death and being a 69-year-old and still paying huge school tax doesn’t seem right.

I feel the Coeur d’Alene and Lakeland school districts are not being transparent, especially with money. What I have seen from these districts looks just like a sales pitch.

For instance, I do not see a budget with comparisons to previous years, money saved by COVID closures to date, including layoffs, a real cost to the average or median home tax bill, or federal stimulus money received, or how it saved money as so nicely presented March 3 by Gary Nystrom, or costs of administration.

There appears to be a movement in the public school system away from God, country and traditional education. And a move toward social and economic issues.

If the public school system is truly interested in quality education, they would support school choice and the voucher system. Each family and child would receive a voucher and choose the BEST school for them, be it private or public.

I am not happy with the school districts holding elections on a date when the turnout is traditionally poor. Holding the election in conjunction with a major election would encourage a better voter turnout and present an improved image for the school districts and save MONEY, even though the system can give an alleged reason for the timing. Find a way to change!

DARYL E. JENKINS

Rathdrum